Romain Esse

Key strength: Acceleration and close dribbling to beat defenders in 1v1 situations.

Inverted winger who operates on the right flank and cuts inside onto his left foot to create shooting and playmaking opportunities.

Fresh from his January 18, 2025 move to Selhurst Park, 20-year-old Romain Esse has already begun repaying Crystal Palace's faith with an electric start to his Eagles career. Despite Palace sitting 14th in the table and fighting for stability, the young English winger has provided a spark of hope—netting once in just three substitute appearances totaling 90 minutes. His €12m valuation reflects the potential Oliver Glasner identified in this inverted left-footer who terrorizes defenders from the right flank. Operating with devastating acceleration and close control, Esse profiles as exactly the kind of direct, dribble-hungry attacker Palace's attack has craved. With a contract running until 2030, this represents a long-term investment in homegrown talent. As the second half of the season unfolds, Palace supporters are watching closely to see if Esse can convert his promising cameos into regular starting minutes—and whether his cutting instinct can help drag the South London club up the table.